Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake #5)(130)

‘If you insist.’ Edward looked across at the treeline, about five hundred yards away. He was nervous; I wondered whether pride had made him accede to his father’s suggestion that we still make this ride. We rode on, guiding the horses carefully.

‘I gather your family comes from near Rolfswood,’ I said casually. I had decided to see what I could find out. Edward Priddis was clever, and a smooth talker, but I sensed he lacked his father’s strength of character.

‘That is so. Though my father moved to Winchester when he became feodary of Hampshire.’

‘Do you ever visit there now?’

‘Not since my mother died ten years ago, God rest her. It was her family who came from those parts. Do you have connections there, Serjeant Shardlake? I do not recall hearing your name before.’

‘I have a client who thought he may have family in Rolfswood. He asked me to visit, see if I could trace them. I went there a few days ago.’

‘Did you find them?’ Edward smiled pleasantly, though his eyes were keen as ever.

‘No. But I stayed overnight, learned of a tragedy there nineteen years ago. A foundry burned to the ground, the founder killed with one of his assistants. The founder’s daughter went mad afterwards. Their name was Fettiplace, that is the name my client was looking for. Your father was coroner then, I believe.’

Edward considered. ‘I remember it vaguely. I was not at home then, I had started at Cambridge. I did a degree before going to Gray’s Inn,’ he added proudly. ‘I seem to remember my father helped the girl, who went mad.’

‘That was good of him,’ I said neutrally. I thought, I have seen enough of your father to see there is no shred of charity in him. I remembered Reverend Seckford telling me how Priddis had supervised Ellen’s forced removal from her place of safety.

‘He is not as hard as people think,’ Edward said stiffly. ‘He does a difficult job.’

‘There is another family I heard of, that you may know. The Wests.’

‘Oh yes, they are important landowners. Mistress West has always ruled the roost around Rolfswood. Did you meet her too?’

‘I only heard of her and her son. He is an officer on the King’s ships now. Philip West. He would have been about your age.’

‘I met him once or twice when I was a boy. But I returned seldom after I went to Cambridge. You seem to have made detailed enquiries, Brother Shardlake.’

‘It was an interesting story.’

Edward brought his horse to a halt and surveyed the landscape. ‘In truth, sir, I think it impossible to tell what trees once grew here. The old trunks are all overgrown. And we are approaching a little too near the treeline for my comfort.’

‘Look at the new young trees growing up,’ I answered quietly. ‘Fully half must be oaks. And see all the high old oaks in the forest ahead.’

Edward made a show of looking carefully, though I was sure he had noticed everything I had. Then he turned to me, and asked quietly, ‘What do you wish to achieve from this case, Master Shardlake?’

‘Justice for Hugh Curteys. It is clear to me this land was mainly forested with oak, though Master Hobbey’s accounts show oaks as barely a quarter of the trees felled.’

‘Yet Hugh Curteys himself said, at the Guildhall, that he is quite content.’

‘He is a young man with no head for business. And when these woods were felled he was a child.’

‘So you would go back to the Court of Wards and ask for what – restitution? It would take great time, Brother, and expense, trouble to a whole family, including Hugh, that has just suffered a great tragedy. A surveyor would have to be paid for, and he would likely find nothing conclusive. Consider, Master Shardlake, is it worth it? Especially when Master Hobbey has offered to be more than reasonable over costs.’

‘You know of his offer?’

‘Brother Dyrick told me, just before we left.’ He raised his heavy eyebrows. ‘He seems greatly fumed with this matter.’

I met his gaze. You and your father took a cut of those profits, I thought. But I had already decided to accept Dyrick’s offer. Without Hugh’s support I could do nothing. But there was no need to commit myself just yet as we had to stay here anyway. ‘I will think more on it,’ I said.

He shrugged. ‘Very well. Even so, I think you know you must settle. And now may we go back? I am anxious Father does not get overtired.’

‘Very well.’

As Edward turned his horse I caught him smiling secretively, sure the case was over.



WHEN WE RETURNED the house was still and hushed, old Priddis sitting alone by the empty fireplace. He looked up. ‘Well, Edward,’ he asked, ‘is all well with the woodlands?’

‘Master Shardlake and I have had a sensible discussion.’

Sir Quintin gave me a long stare, then grunted. ‘Help me, Edward, I would get up.’

Edward helped the old man to his feet. Sir Quintin stood, breathing heavily, his useless arm swinging by his side. The whiteness of his withered hand reminded me of poor Abigail’s dead face, and I had to suppress a shudder.

‘I have had enough of this place,’ Sir Quintin said pettishly, ‘everyone in such a state. I want to get away.’

‘Very well,’ Edward answered soothingly. ‘I will prepare the horses. By the way, Father,’ he added lightly, ‘Master Shardlake has visited Rolfswood. He was talking of that tragedy at the foundry – you remember, when you were coroner?’